Any ideas?

Karen Sienk
by Karen Sienk

Looking for ideas to decorate my wall...air return vent is an eyesore but necessary. I’m looking for ideas on how to decorate to disguise the vent and maybe add some artwork to the right side of the wall.

I’m thinking maybe something on the right side would help draw the eye away or just wondering if mounting a picture or hanging over the vent, spaced about an inch away from the vent would impede the purpose of the vent as regards air circulation.

  13 answers
  • Gk Gk on Jun 27, 2020

    Here's an air vent cover that is decorative and shouldn't impede the flow. You could start with this and add around it with more wall decor.

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/500392208603077232/

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 27, 2020

    Paint it all the same wall and grill. But you might consider 'sponge' painting using tone on tone or various colors to even more disguise the uglies.

    Another good idea is to put a table in front of this perhaps even a plant on the table to hide the vent. Just don't cover it up you don't want to restrict the air in any way.


    • Karen Sienk Karen Sienk on Jun 28, 2020

      Thank you....I tried to persuade my husband but he insisted it get painted this way..the plant idea is good. Appreciate your taking the time to help.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jun 27, 2020

    Another possibility for me is to do a darker color on the wall, and vent to trick the eye. I would mount the tv on the wall, too. Then I would hang an eye catching painting or piece of DIY art on the wall to draw the eye. If you want to keep the light colors, I would still do one or two large statement pieces on the wall. Industrial or metal would make the grill , with or without an update look intentional, if you included the vent in the display. Good luck and stay safe!

    • Karen Sienk Karen Sienk on Jun 28, 2020

      Thanks ... good idea...my husband wouldn’t let me do the accent wall...he likes light colors but I’ll got with the larger statement piece. ❤️

  • Annie Annie on Jun 27, 2020

    A darker wall color on both the wall and the vent would hide the sight of the vent. Something bright to hang on the wall would be nice too

    • See 1 previous
    • Annie Annie on Jun 28, 2020

      I really liked that decorative vent someone posted, that would look pretty!

  • Baxter Baxter on Jun 27, 2020

    Please excuse the crude picture--- but hopefully this shows you how to create a more balanced area along that high wall. Your wall is too large and the tv and console are dwarfed by the height and spanse of the wall. So create another sitting area to the right of the tv (left side of the fireplace wall?). Place a swivel chair or chair/ottoman along with your end table & lamp in that corner. Then add artwork on the wall above the setting (a choice of a larger & medium pictures to form a gallery) in order to balance out the other side where the tv & credenza are. (The chair/ottoman I placed there may be too large for the space but it will give you an idea how to fill the area even if furniture is smaller.) I suggest moving the credenza directly under the air vent and hanging the tv on the wall (centered under the air vent) about 8-10 inches above the console---it will help fill in the vertical space and balance the vent. Hope this helps. Good luck!

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Jun 27, 2020

    you could add floating shelves on both sides of the TV and the vent could be in one of the shelves and you could add items in front of it - and a nice piece of art work to bring in some color https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyLj0Ppukc

    • Karen Sienk Karen Sienk on Jun 28, 2020

      Wonderful! Simple, affordable, doable...now comes the hard part....convincing my husband. Thanks so much!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 27, 2020

    Another idea to 'disguise' the vent is to purchase a set of large louvered shutters and mount them over the vent so that it looks like the shutters are on a window.


    If you wanted to keep the TV centred in the wall, then I would suggest to purchase another set of louvered shutters and mount them on the opposite side of the wall, symmetrically, so that it looks like there are two windows.


    The depth/lines of the shutters would give dimension to the presently flat wall, and would also help to downplay/draw the eye away from the unsymmetrical slopes of the ceiling.

    • See 1 previous
    • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 28, 2020

      You're welcome.

      Post a picture here to share when the project is finished. (If you let husband pick which option, maybe when he sees the nice outcome, he will be convinced it was all due to his idea!)

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 27, 2020

    I think that Baxter's suggestion to divide the wall into two separate areas to draw the eye downwards and away from the centre point so high up in the large empty wall, is sensible.

  • Dee Dee on Jun 28, 2020

    I would add crown molding or even the fake crown molding that you put on the wall like board and batten. You can purchase fancy AC vents, however be careful not to block the flow of the air. I would go to Kirkland's and look for some oversize art work for the wall


    • See 1 previous
    • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 28, 2020

      I hear you about the vent being an eyesore.


      I also agree that crown molding will not 'solve' the problem. Besides, it would be a nightmare to try to mitre all the joins with the sloped ceiling lines and around the centre beam.

  • Patty Patty on Jun 29, 2020

    I would put beams or faux beams across the vaulted ceiling. You are focused on the vent, but what you need is some large art on that wall. Bring the focus to somethong nice and the vent will all but disappear.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jun 30, 2020

    Have you thought about moving your Tv to the side where vent is and create pretty vent covers to create illusion of wall unit

  • Wow, this wall is a fantastic opportunity! You currently have a proportion issue which you can balance out with artwork and decor. I personally would maybe try a wallpaper or a painted accent which will all help distract from the vent. Flip through Pinterest or Instagram for ideas for a bit, cull down ideas and options then have fun! Be sure to show your husband lots and lots of images with color and dark walls, ease him into it, heh, it works!

  • Rymea Rymea on Jul 03, 2020

    You could put a bookcases on both sides of the TV but I like Baxter's idea just as well.